The government of Uganda has officially brought Leye Dam in Kole District back into operation after nearly 20 years of neglect, restoring a major water infrastructure project meant to drive agricultural production in northern Uganda.
Leye Dam, built in 2006 by the Ministry of Water and Environment with World Bank financing, cost approximately Shs 4 billion and was designed to support irrigation, fish farming, and other livelihood activities.
Despite its early promise, the dam was rendered unusable by 2016 due to heavy infestation of aquatic weeds, which officials partly blamed on contaminated fishing materials transferred from other water bodies. The weed invasion halted aquaculture and forced communities to abandon key economic activities around the site.
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Goal to improving water infrastructure
During the commissioning ceremony Eng. Ronald Kato Kayizzi, the Assistant Commissioner for Water for Production, confirmed that the facility has been completely rehabilitated and is ready for use once again.
He explained that the overgrown weeds had made the water body inaccessible for years, crippling farming activities that the dam was created to support. With the rehabilitation complete, communities can now restart micro-irrigation, fish farming, and other production ventures.
Local leaders hailed the revival as a major boost for the district. Joe Okello, who chairs the Water User Committee, noted that the dam is once again functioning as intended and already offering reliable water for agricultural use. Kole District Chairperson Moses Andrew Awany said the restoration comes at a critical moment when communities are grappling with unpredictable weather patterns and declining productivity linked to climate change.
The Ministry of Water and Environment has recently intensified efforts to safeguard and restore water bodies nationwide, including the removal of invasive species like water hyacinth that threaten several lakes and dams.
According to Kole Resident District Commissioner Jillian Akullo, the successful rehabilitation reflects ongoing government initiatives under the NRM aimed at improving water infrastructure, strengthening community resilience, and promoting sustainable natural resource management.
To maintain the dam and protect the surrounding ecosystem, district officials plan to guide beneficiary communities toward alternative and environmentally friendly livelihoods, such as beekeeping and duck rearing—activities known to help curb the regrowth of aquatic weeds. A multidisciplinary technical team has been formed to oversee the operation and maintenance of the dam, with an emphasis on watershed conservation.
Eng. Kato also highlighted the Ministry’s national tree-planting campaign, urging households to plant more trees under the Roots programme, which aims to match annual tree-planting numbers to Uganda’s population.